McMullan Shield report.
Drumragh Integrated college1
Castlederg High School 3

Castlederg High school and Drumagh Integrated College played out the Fermanagh and Western Schools Football Association Under 14 McMullan Shield final, on Friday of last week at NFC Kesh. A close and entertaining contest was expected after the two sides had gone unbeaten in the league section of the competition. With the fixture between the sides finishing in a 2-2 draw.

It was Drumragh who started the brighter and it was the Omagh lads who manufactured the first effort on goal. After neat build up in the Castlederg half Drumragh forced a corner. From which Jamie Walsh shot wide of the Castlederg Goal. Indeed the tall centre forward and his strike partner Jachin Smith were causing all sorts of problems for the Castlederg defence.

As the half wore on, Castlederg seemed to settle into the game, with midfield play makers Darren Long and Samuel Mckelvey becoming more influential. It was an intelligent through ball by Long that created Castledergs first goal. The ball by Long sent Castlederg striker through on goal, with the pacey striker baring down on him the Drumragh goal keeper hesitated and McIlwaine provided a cool finish for the opening goal.

The game was still very much in the balance when Long Castledergs captain was very unlucky not to double his sides lead. A well delivered corner form Scott Gordon was cleared to the edge of the area were Long struck the ball on the half volley only to see Andrew Smith push his effort onto the cross bar, the young keeper certainly making up for his hesitation on the opening goal.

Both teams were now playing some inventive and attractive football but it was defences that were on top for most of the game. With Smith and Walsh working hard up front for Drumragh the Omagh side were always likely to create chances. It was from a corner on the right that Drumagh produced the equaliser. It was Smith who applied the finishing touch to a flick on at the front post, after a scramble in the crowded Castlederg penalty box.

The teams went in at half time with the game finely in the balance at 1-1.The second half started in much the same vain. Both sided looking to get the ball down and play football.
10 minutes into the half McIlwaine turned provider, a long throw down the line by full Alan Black beat the Drumagh defence, again McIlwaine showed his pace to win the ball. His shot was saved by Smith, but the rebound fell kindly for the Castlederg striker who feed the oncoming Scott Gordon who finished an accurate left footed strike. The Drumragh boys had hardly regained their composure when Castlederg Struke again. This time a strike from all of twenty yards from Sammy McKelvey beat the despairing dive of Smith in the Drumagh goal.

After conceding two goals in such a short space of time many teams would have crumbled. However credit has to go to Drumagh, who refused to give in and continued to make Castlederg work for every ball. The commitment of both teams was shown twenty minutes into the half with Scott Gordon and his opposite number both having to be replaced after a strong challenge for the ball. Replacement Dylan Aiken nearly sealed the win for Castlederg with his first touch of the ball. After exchanging passes with full back, Darren long feed Aiken on the right hand side of the pitch. Aiken cut inside two Drumragh defenders and unleashed a dipping left foot shot from the edge of the box. Again Smith came to his side’s aid with a fantastic save high to his right pushing the shot over the bar.

The goal mouth action continued to the final whistle with first Jachin Smith hitting the post for Drumagh and Gareth Nerthey doing likewise for Castlederg.

Castlederg managed to close out the game to win the

Winners of the Primary Schools 5-a side for Large Primary Schools - Holy Trinity
Runners Up - Ballinamallard Primary School.

Winners of the 7 a side Blitz at the Bawnacre - Kesh Promary Schools
Runners Up - St. Pauls, Irvinestown.

Winners of the Greg Turley Memorial Competition - Holy Trinity - Runners Up - Ballinamallard

NI Competitions
Year 8 - Castledery- Bye, Portora home to St. Louis, Devenish College away to De La Salle
Year 9&10- Omagh High away to Lisbagarvey, Castlederg home to Fort Hill, Fivemiletown home to Monkstown, Portora home to Wellington College, Devenish College away to Knockbreda.
Year 11&12 - Erne Integrated home to Cambridge House(Prelim game), Omagh High away to Edmund Rice, Portora home to Grovenor, St Michaels home to CBS or Bangor Acc, Fivemiletown away to Dromore, Devenish home to Holy Cross, Castlederg home to St, Marys CBGS.

First Competition for 2009 confrimed - Greg Turley will be on Friday 22nd May 2009

Only Year 11 & 12 Pupils should play in the McKee Cup - Any school with boys returning to repeat Year 12 are not eligible to play. Schools should not play Year 10 pupils in this competition.